The nastiest politician in this Canadian century can dish it out...

But he clearly can't take it.

This, from, of all people, Harper.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood unapologetic Tuesday, defended his embattled natural resources minister and dismissed the storm of opposition and public criticism of Lisa Raitt as "cheap politics."

[...]

"This minister has been working around the clock to make sure we get a greater supply of isotopes and make sure we have alternative options for our health-care patients in this country," Harper said.

"That is what the minister is doing. That is what this government is doing, not playing cheap politics."

Some view this as humour. Others recognize that Harper is incapable of humour. And most of us can't believe that Harper actually engaged in such blatant hypocrisy.

And after listening to Harper spin-doctor Kory Teneycke do his little bob and weave this morning on The Current, I still want to know who paid in the attempt to muzzle the Halifax Chronicle-Herald. If it's such cheap politics why was there such a rush to get an injuction preventing the release of the now famous recording?

Teneycke isn't to be believed. He stated that no government department was involved. This is the same piece of crap that introduced Harper Conservative Party attack ads at a media gathering and claimed that because he had taken a day of unpaid leave that he was not legally on the payroll of the Prime Minister's Office.

The turd plays fast and loose with technicalities.

So, the question is, which political torpedo was off the payroll yesterday to provide the Harperites with a technical denial of involvement?